Prequel: The Kintsugi Prince

There is a kingdom named Rythacon on a world both realities away and close enough to touch. The rulers of this kingdom, as they often are, were evil, despicable beings. They used their knowledge of dark powers to subjugate the lands near theirs, crippling them and levying exorbitant taxes on the people left alive.

The actions of the King and Queen of Rythacon were not entirely without retribution. A young mother of no other particular consequence cursed the King and Queen as she died, having just watched her family slaughtered in front of her.

The King and Queen were powerful, and had a deep knowledge of ancient arts. However, even they began to succumb to the curse, faces slowly shattering inward as if under the pressure if an invisible vise. Their most cowardly and craven of magics unable to save them, the King and Queen sought counsel from a being so foul even they went to her only in their final desperation.